Mighty Muskegon offers summer recreational fun

Chronicle • Kendra Stanley-MillsSabrina Mathews, 14, of Twin Lake, floats down the Muskegon River after being dropped off at the Bridgeton Bridge by River Rat Canoe Rental in Grant. Mathews was part of a large group of Herman Miller employees, who along with their friends and family, took the four-hour tube trip down the river Friday.

Chronicle • Kendra Stanley-Mills A large group of Herman Miller employees float down the Muskegon River on a four-hour tube trip Friday.

Equipped with sunscreen, Ziploc bags, cigarettes, coolers full of beer, and large black inner tubes, 25 people started their 10:30 a.m. trek down the Muskegon River a couple of weekends ago.

Many in the group had just gotten off third shift at Herman Miller in Spring Lake and headed to the river at a time when they normally are sleeping.

The group met at River Rat Canoe Rental in Grant where they rented tubes and were taken by van to a boat launch in Bridgeton Township to start their journey.

On the way over, Ravenna's Chris Emery, 20, talked about the time he lost his Oakley sunglasses in the water when his brother flipped over his tube.

Almost as soon as the vans pulled into the dirt parking lot, Emery dove into the river -- with his sunglasses on.

"I already lost my glasses!" Emery yelled, searching the water.

Welcome to weekends on the Muskegon River. While many area residents head to the pristine beaches of Lake Michigan or the many smaller inland lakes to keep cool, others gather with family and friends and drive northeast to one of the various launch points on the Muskegon River for a leisurely float.

Some bring canoes or kayaks. But most bring inner tubes.

Traffic on the river during summer weekends can become nonstop, with vehicles crowding boat launches to release or pick up "tubers."

For the complete story, return to Mlive.com/chronicle Monday, or pick up a copy of Monday's Muskegon Chronicle.